West Des Moines Difference - January 2009 - (Page 32)

SCOPE OF BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS Mid-Sized Companies Thrive in West Des Moines When Holmes Murphy & Associates outgrew its downtown Des Moines location in the 1990s, the company moved its corporate headquarters to West Des Moines in 1999 as it focused on the future. “West Des Moines has been an excellent fit, and we’ve grown from 160 employees to 250 employees at our headquarters,” said Jim Swift , president and CEO of Holmes VILLAGE OF PONDEROSA Murphy, the 28th-largest independent premier riskmanagement and insurance-brokerage fi rm in the United States. “We have a great location with easy access to all Ladco builds the future parts of Des Moines and Central Iowa, and our employees of West Des Moines Ladco Development Inc., which stays on the cutt ing edge can enjoy an exceptional work/life balance.” With its close proximity to Interstate 235 as well as of real estate development trends, has also found room to grow in West Des Moines. The company is involved in nearly 50 development projects in the region, ranging from health-care facilities to hotels to mixed-use projects, totaling over 2.6 million square feet. “Each project is just as important as the next one,” said Jon Garnaas, president and CEO, who noted that Ladco and several partner companies have more than 150 employees in West Des Moines and Kansas City, Mo. “We try to look JIM SWIFT, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HOLMES MURPHY ahead, anticipate the future and operate our companies with restaurants, shopping centers and fitness facilities, Holmes the credo: integrity, passion, tenacity and fun,” he said. Based in West Des Moines since 1998, Ladco focuses on Murphy’s office on Westown Parkway offers a convenient location with easy access to amenities. “All this benefits creating unique projects for the betterment of the commuHolmes Murphy, because happy employees take good care nity and the local economy. In West Des Moines itself, the company has spearheaded more than 15 projects, ranging of our clients,” Swift said. The City of West Des Moines continues to make the from health-care facilities to office buildings to mixed-use community a desirable place to work and live, Swift added. properties such as the new Village of Ponderosa. Ladco “Progressive leaders have a well-formulated, long-range enjoys a positive working relationship with the City of plan for the growth of West Des Moines, and that’s good West Des Moines and praises the visionary leadership and sound planning that have led to the huge growth in new for business,” he said. development in recent years. “The Ladco Development team appreciates the progressive nature of West Des Moines’ elected and appointed leaders, the quality of the city staff and their ‘make it happen’ approach to development,” Garnaas said. “ PROGRESSIVE LEADERS HAVE A WELL-FORMULATED, LONGRANGE PLAN FOR THE GROWTH OF WEST DES MOINES, AND THAT’S GOOD FOR BUSINESS.” 32 THE WEST DES MOINES DIFFERENCE

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San Jose Official Visitor Guide 2009

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